Brazil and South Korea Sign Film Cooperation Agreement

The deal was announced during a panel discussion at the 37th Sao Paulo Festival.

SAO PAULO -- An official agreement between the Brazilian National Cinema Agency (Ancine) and the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) was signed on Wednesday to promote "cultural diversity in the field of cinema and audiovisual" and encourage the development of co-productions between both countries.

The deal was signed by Manoel Rangel, managing director of Ancine, and Hong Sung-kee, vice president of KOFIC, during a forum at the Sao Paulo International Film Festival. The agreement paves the way for a future co-production deal that will be signed between the governments of both countries.

“An approach like this can add a lot [to Brazil and South Korea] because both have creative know-how and attractive markets." said Rangel. "We hope to strengthen the ties between producers from both countries, so they realize the opportunities that they can represent to each other."

“Brazil is a propitious market for Korea since we have many Koreans living here, so we have many stories to tell,” added KOFIC's Sung-kee.

A panel between directors and producers from South Korea and Brazil also took place Wednesday that focused on the helmers' different models for producing and financing films. The attendees included Yeonu Choi, producer of Final Recipe, Kyeong-duk Cho, director of Sex Volunteer, Dooho Choi, producer of Snowpiercer,and Fabiano Gullane, producer of Amazonia and A Wolf at the Door.

This year, the festival will screen 17 Korean films in a partnership with the government of South Korea as part of the program “Focus Korea.”